Georgia diabetics hope for lower insulin costs this year after seniors see copays capped

FILE - Insulin is displayed at Pucci's Pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif., July 8, 2022. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said this week that Democrats planned to add language to the economic package focused on climate and health care that will be aimed at reducing patients' costs of insulin, the diabetes drug that can cost hundreds of dollars monthly. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Insulin is displayed at Pucci's Pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif., July 8, 2022. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said this week that Democrats planned to add language to the economic package focused on climate and health care that will be aimed at reducing patients' costs of insulin, the diabetes drug that can cost hundreds of dollars monthly. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Diabetic Atlanta resident Tommy Marshall, 54, has health insurance. But he still pays $600 a month out of pocket for his insulin medication at the pharmacy counter until his plan’s annual deductible is met.

“Almost every time I’ll go in, the pharmacists are like, do you understand how much this is? And they look at me kind of wide-eyed and I’m like, yeah, but I need this to be healthy and to manage this disease,” Marshall said. “So, you just fork over the money.”

He needs several injections of insulin throughout the day, and one before he goes to sleep every night.